Drogba off mark as Chelsea underline intent

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Striker Didier Drogba scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea in a 2-0 victory at promoted Crystal Palace on Tuesday that sent Jose Mourinho's side to the top of the table.

The Ivory Coast forward, who cost a club record £24 million ($61 million) when he joined from Olympique Marseille last month, scored after 28 minutes.

Fellow new boy Tiago Mendes got the second as Chelsea made it three wins from three league games without conceding a goal.

England striker Emile Heskey similarly scored his first goal for Birmingham City since joining from Liverpool, heading home an eighth-minute winner as they beat Manchester City 1-0 in Tuesday's other game.

Chelsea were never threatened by a Palace side which could not compete with a club that has spent $500 million on new players since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich took over in July 2003.

Following up 1-0 wins over Manchester United and Birmingham City, the victory firmly established Chelsea's pre-season credentials as serious title contenders.

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Though they have been criticised for being too defensive and lacking creative spark, Chelsea captain John Terry insisted: "We're going into every game trying to win 3-0 or 4-0.

"We got two goals today and we're happy with that - we kept the ball brilliantly.

"We haven't conceded yet, we've got nine points on the board, so we'll let anyone criticise us. As long as we keep doing our thing, keep getting the three points, that's all that matters."

Meanwhile, Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce is anxiously awaiting the verdict on an ankle injury to Heskey which took the gloss off their win.

Heskey limped off after 53 minutes with a recurrence of the problem and could be doubtful for the Blues' trip to face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

"We are waiting to see what the injury looks like in the next couple of days. It is the same ankle he injured earlier this season," said Bruce.

Heskey produced a powerful header from Stan Lazaridis's cross after only seven minutes to give Birmingham victory and underline why Bruce was so keen to bring him to St Andrews.

"Apparently I put my neck on the line signing him. I will do it every day of the week if he keeps performing like that," said Bruce.

"He has played three games for us now and he has been awesome. No other player on the pitch could have scored the goal that he did.

"I believe that he is the best out and out, old-fashioned number nine in the country, now that Alan Shearer is getting on a little bit and I am delighted to have him."

Bruce also has a problem at left back after Lazaridis limped off with a thigh injury. The Australian international is rated a serious doubt for the clash with Spurs at White Hart Lane.